Below is a sign on letter to the President urging him to immediately redirect $35 million to the state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) and $10 million to Ryan White Part C programs in FY2013 in order to ensure continuation of care and treatment for thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government for the remainder of FY2013 does not include $35 million in emergency ADAP funding and $10 million for Part C medical clinics announced by President Obama on World AIDS Day (December 1), 2011. This funding currently is being used by 15 states/territories to provide life-saving medications to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. (AL, AK, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MT, NE, NJ, SD, TN, WA, WI, VI) This funding also is supporting key staff at Part C supported HIV clinics nationwide, helping these programs serve more patients. If funds aren't restored, it could lead to an estimated 7,920 clients being removed from the ADAP program and many Part C funded HIV clinics reducing services and closing their doors to new patients.

This letter is open to both individual and organizational sign ons. If your organization would like to sign-on please click on the link here or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YFLWPBN The deadline for sign on is COB Monday, April 1.

Please forward this sign on opportunity widely.

Emily McCloskey is the manager for policy and legislative affairs at the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD).

March XX, 2013

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf the undersigned organizations, we urge you to immediately redirect $35 million to the state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) and $10 million to Ryan White Part C programs in FY2013 in order to ensure continuation of care and treatment for thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. These funds, originally transferred by you in FY2012, are integral to assisting states in providing medications to low-income people through ADAP and increasing access to medical care. Unfortunately, Congress did not include the continuation of all of this funding for these programs in the "Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013."[Note: We understand that $5 million for Part C Clinics funded through the Bureau of Primary Care is continued.] ADAPs and Ryan White Part C clinics will soon face a 5% funding cut due to sequestration and not continuing the existing emergency funding only will worsen this situation.

ADAPs and Ryan White Part C programs, like many safety-net providers, have been stressed by the recent economic downturn. Individuals who have lost their jobs and insurance are in need of consistent access to HIV-related medications through ADAPs and care and treatment through Part C clinics. Additionally, the emphasis on ensuring people are aware of their HIV status through HIV testing has put additional pressure on ADAPs and Part C clinics to serve newly-identified individuals. ADAP client enrollment has increased by 15% from 2009 to 2012, while Part C Programs have seen an over 60%increase in patients over the past decade. You recognized these factors on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, when you announced this additional funding. It is imperative that this funding is continued in FY2013.

The additional ADAP funding currently is being used by 15 states and territories to provide life-saving medications to approximately 8,000 individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The Part C funding is supporting staff at Part C clinics in almost all states and territories to serve more patients. When you announced this funding, there were 4,274 individuals on ADAP waitlists in 12 states. As of March 14, 2013, in part because of this emergency relief funding, there are 65 individuals in three states on waiting lists. If funds aren't restored, it could lead to nearly 8,000 clients being removed from the ADAP program. Ryan White Part C clinics already have faced funding shortfalls associated with increased patient demands. Fifty four percent of programs already have reduced or cut services. Without this continued funding, clinics would be forced to further reduce services, cut staff, and close to new patients.

If these funds aren't transferred, there will be serious consequences for individuals currently receiving services through the Ryan White Program. ADAPs will be forced to institute waitlists and other cost containment measures which present barriers to comprehensive medication coverage for people living with HIV/AIDS. Some ADAPs may have to remove clients, who are currently enrolled and receiving services, from the program. Based on a survey of over 100 RyanWhite Part C clinics nationwide, in the face of a 10 percent cut - ironically, the same percentage cut these programs now face from the FY2013 -- 66 percent of Part C clinics surveyed responded that they would be forced to reduce services available to current patients; 57 percent would cut staff; and an additional 13 percent would have to close their clinics to new patients.

We greatly appreciate your leadership on the domestic HIV epidemic. Your prioritization of addressing the ADAP crisis by providing $70 million in emergency funding over the course of 2010 - 2012 and an additional $15 million for Part C programs during FY2012 demonstrates your deep commitment to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. On behalf of these individuals, we hope that you continue your steadfast leadership by authorizing again this transfer of $45 million as soon as possible in FY2013.

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